The announcement of the New Zealand First party’s decision to join the Labour party in coalition government with Green Party support has ended almost a month of uncertainty, and results in a verdict in favour of change, rather than allowing for cautious continuity.
If you’re not familiar with the life of a mariner, then it might sound a little strange why they don’t allow bananas on the boat.
The reason is quite simple: bananas are bad luck.
Are you a regular Lotto player? Think you’re in with a chance of being the next millionaire? Let’s have a look at the numbers..
The NZ Lotteries Commission estimate your chances of winning first division Lotto at one in 3.8 million (or one in 38 million for Powerball!) ie. – not likely!
When you drive, you’re constantly checking your surroundings. You’re keeping an eye on other motorists around you, and making a mental note of who’s speeding up, slowing down or turning.
You rely on other motorists to do the same thing – but accidents still happen.
If someone else makes a mistake and causes an accident – are you also relying on them to have insurance?
We have experienced rapidly increasing house prices over the past few years, increasing the value of what for many of us will be our biggest asset. But does this mean we are actually any wealthier and are we making the same smart decisions we made when our properties were worth less?
We know it's hard to resist spending now in order to have something more to use in the future. Retirement can seem like such a long time away but a little bit saved now can make a big difference later.
Kids find it just as hard as adults.
Recent figures from Sovereign show that cancer continues to be the leading cause of life and trauma insurance claims.
Cancer made up 49.6% of Sovereign life insurance claims and 68.3% of trauma claims in the 12 months to 30 June 2016. with over $115 million paid out during this time frame.
The Government is cautiously supportive of including higher KiwiSaver contribution rate options and “increasing KiwiSaver coverage” but cannot say yet what that might mean.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean has released the Government’s response to the Retirement Commissioner, Diane Maxwell’s, review of retirement income policies.
There is a difference! The costs of living are constantly increasing – food, rates, power and heating, phone, rent or mortgage repayments – you name it, just covering the basic bills is getting expensive. Which means that once you retire and income reduces, keeping up with things becomes even harder.
When you consider the unique challenges faced by women in their 30s, including career breaks to have children, it’s hardly surprising that this age group lags behind others when it comes to retirement savings.
Even if you are in a higher income bracket, you might be surprised to learn that studies show you fall into a group that is most likely underestimating your life insurance needs
Living down here at the bottom of the world in New Zealand, we as a nation pride ourselves on our ‘self reliance’, our ‘resourcefulness’ and ‘independence’, yet a glance at the news headlines shows that too many Kiwis still rely on Government to bail us out when things go wrong.
A recent survey from AMP shows that women between the ages of 18-39 are three times more likely than males to rely on their partner to help them if they faced losing their income for three months or more.
You’ve probably made a smart decision to protect those dearest to you with Life Insurance. But could you afford to pay the bills and medical fees if you were debilitated by a life threatening illness or injury? - You may need to consider 'Trauma Cover' or known as Critical Illness cover.
Your rental property might be the result of a clever investment plan or something you just fell into. Either way, if you collect rent on a rental home, you’re running a business and there are rules you’ll need to comply with.
Owning a rental property is usually the result of many years of saving and planning, and it's important to protect your property investments. While you need to insure the actual house, this does not provide you with any cover for landlord’s contents which may include dishwashers, stoves, washing machines, curtains, blinds and fixed light fittings.
If you are self-employed, ten-to-one you see freedom and money as tools to achieve your goals. That freedom you enjoy as someone who is self-employed extends to your participation in retirement schemes like KiwiSaver and that means you have to make some conscious decisions that an employed person might not ordinarily need to think about.
Being a Single parent can be a burden and blessing, and it times can feel like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders...
Most single parents agree that raising their kids alone can be challenging and amazing.
So, question; If your kids depend on you and only you what would happen to them if you weren’t around for them tomorrow? For most single parents that’s a scary question to be asked.
Yes, it’s that time of year again! Where most of us look to the future and the things we want to achieve for 2017.
If you’re looking for a resolution for 2017, it could be to be “a better financial position than 2016”. Here’s some ideas to ponder over the holidays:
We know how exciting it is to go travelling but before you start your trip, make sure to do your research so you can travel smart and safely.
Most travel insurance providers in New Zealand offer a selection of policies that allow you to choose a policy suited to your needs.
